In 1981, Alvin Law officially started speaking to schools and organizations throughout Canada.  Unofficially, he started his speaking career as a young child when he was encouraged by his parents to explain to others “what happened to you?”.  Today Alvin is one of Canada’s most highly-sought after inspirational speakers and travels throughout Canada, the US and around the world. 

To say Alvin Law is disabled wouldn’t offend him or be inaccurate; after all he was born without arms due to the infamous morning sickness drug, Thalidomide.  Today, he is completely independent and most often is described as “amazing”, as opposed to “disabled”.  People often assume his program must be yet another example of a “Handicapped Speaker”.  These kinds of perceptions and labels have actually been Alvin’s biggest obstacles.  If you consider he was born this way, perhaps you can also consider he was born completely “normal”…to him! 

Yet what Alvin has accomplished in the face of such challenges makes him a real life expert in a world full of real-life obstacles.  Alvin was born in 1960, so his insight from living through such a dynamic period in history has also made him one of the foremost experts on adaptation, change, diversity and perspective.  This is more than just marketing hype.  Alvin’s story is real and one that is impossible to forget but not simply because of his difference; “Alvin is us!” was a description used by a witness to his phenomenal show (it is so much more than a speech). 

In fact, many have described him as a master storyteller, and he has great stories.  His sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, but always honest observations about the human experience connects him with his audience in a very rare way.  He allows his audience to feel both the pain and elation that all human beings experience regardless of the circumstances of their birth and he definitely makes people reconsider the excuses they make in their daily lives.

Having said all of this, Alvin’s presentation is more than just a warm & fuzzy story.  Combining lessons from his remarkable life of being born without arms with his unique insight into personal business attitudes, Alvin has developed a series of proven strategies for enhancing and sustaining employee production and job satisfaction on both an individual and corporate level.  Audiences learn how to apply these time-tested techniques to ignite their own vision and execute their strategies to enhance overall job performance as well as increase personal satisfaction. 

Professional corporations look to Alvin to motivate their employees to achieve new and higher levels of commitment to their jobs, their communities and their lives.  In the current economic climate our clients have found that receiving Alvin’s message is more important than ever.  Companies are constantly facing a lack of positivity in the workplace.  Alvin’s words and philosophy go a long way to counteract this.  As Alvin has always believed; “All professional development starts with personal assessment and taken together, everyone wins!”

Alvin’s message is universal and transcends all the usual “motivational clichés”.  His story is not industry specific and applies to everyone and anyone regardless of age, culture, position in society or role in the world.  Alvin is truly a bridge-builder.

The beauty of Alvin’s stories and unique style is it allows him to customize his keynote to any theme.  Alvin works closely with the event organizers to personalize his presentation to match the goals of the event.  But be prepared – Alvin’s message touches everyone differently.  It becomes so personal it changes from Alvin’s story to your story and becomes the message you need to hear right now.  Inevitably it reaches into your heart and sole and stays with you for the rest of your life.  Alvin constantly meets people who deliberately approach him, say his name and recount their experience with his program, as long as 30 years ago. By the way, they always mention the drums, which is the major reason he still plays one in his show. Indeed the image of Alvin playing the drums and the piano with his feet becomes a touchstone that will inspire you again and again.

All of Alvin’s inspiring programs fit perfectly as an opening or closing address but also work as a lunch or dinner talk where delegates take a break from “learning” to give them the attitude boost we all need now and then.  And all his programs possess a powerful common denominator…Alvin’s Energy!  It is hard to describe because you have to feel it but simply put, Alvin is the complete Professional!  He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and a 2009 inductee into the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Hall of Fame (HoF).  In fact, the hardest part of having Alvin speak at your event will be finding the next speaker…he is literally a hard act to follow!

The following are Alvin’s most requested presentations but don’t let the title stop you.  We are happy to work with the event planners to customize the title to fit with the theme of the event.  Regardless of the title, all of Alvin’s presentations reflect his mastery in storytelling and reaches out to touch everyone in the audience in a unique and personal way.    Think of it as content for the soul.

There’s No Such Word As Can’t   (40-60 min.)
This title is a perfect example as it is the expression Alvin’s parent’s used in his childhood to encourage a belief system, one that is timeless.  This talk is one that has been used with youth for over 30 years.  This is also a typical keynote that fits very well in opening or closing slots of conventions or professional development events. 

Optional Titles:    
Making Choices, Not Excuses;    When Amazing Is Your Normal

Alvin’s Laws of Life: 5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything!
(60–120 min)

Also the title of his first book, this is Alvin’s longer more training oriented program that works very well as an element of a one day event.  He can also extend this program to include a Q & A session for more direct interaction with a group.  It can also be a stand-alone workshop that follows a shorter keynote.  Alvin`s Laws are the five elements he believes provided his roadmap to a successful life and can be used by anyone to find theirs.  They are; Attitude, Learning, Value Your Life & Spirit, Imagination, and Never Give Up and also spell ALVIN.   

Every Kid Counts…So Do You!  (40-90 min.) 
Alvin has spoken in over 7,500 schools around the globe so he knows kids!  He also knows teachers, especially the ones who made a significant difference in his life.  Alvin recognizes working in education is challenging, made more so when dealing with less than typical students, but when it comes to contributing to making the world a better place, teachers lead Alvin’s list.  In a sometimes thankless job, Alvin guarantees they will leave feeling not only appreciated, but rejuvenated.
A similar program called Everybody Counts!  Is geared towards support staff.

Safety Counts Because Everybody Counts  (60–120 min.)
Alvin is a not a ``safety expert``, but he believes that Attitude Is A Culture!  The foundation of  ``Safety In The Workplace`` is Attitude  and companies are facing increased pressure to raise safety standards.  But let`s be very blunt; many consider safety at work as ``wimpy`` and a ``waste of time``.  Alvin grew up in a blue collar home and his father was a heavy duty mechanic for 57 years so he gets the safety culture from a personal place and even though some things have changed, many stay the same and that where Alvin`s approach comes in.  He has a way of breaking down the barriers many ``old-school`` workers possess and although his story is not one of an injured worker, the stark imagery of a person without arms provides a harsh reality and a reminder to everyone that life is not bullet-proof, it is fragile and it is valuable.